Defense rules as Tommies wrap up 10-0 regular season

Senior Fritz Waldvogel had his ninth career return touchdown and No. 3-ranked St. Thomas allowed just 85 total yards and recorded its third shutout of the season with Saturday's 56-0 defeat of host Carleton.

St. Thomas (10-0 overall, 8-0 MIAC) closed out its second consecutive 10-0 regular season, an unprecedented feat in conference history since shedules were expanded in the 1960s.

It's the first time since St. John's in 1962 and 1963 that a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team had back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons.

The Tommies, who raced to a 42-0 haftime lead, held the Knights to just nine net rushing yards and four first downs on the afternoon, and had five sacks. St. Thomas rolled up 537 total yards, including 149 rushing yards from senior Colin Tobin and 142 rushing yards from freshman Aaron Terell-Byrd.

Waldvogel, who tied a St. Thomas record with his 46th career start, had a 51-yard punt return touchdown late in the first quarter. It was the third kick return score of his career against Carleton. He took a punt back 70 yards to the end zone in the 2008 meeting in St. Paul, and brought back the game's opening kickoff for a touchdown in the 2009 game in Northfield.

The Tommies allowed just 100 points in 10 regular-season games. They ran their conference win streak to 19, their regular-season win streak to 24 and their road win streak to 10. They have a bye on Nov. 12 and expect to get a first-round home game when the Division III playoffs start Nov. 19.

UST's Riley Dombek had two sacks and a fumble recovery.